Highly-integrated next-generation drivers and base station for passive keyless entry

Atmel has launched its next-generation 4 channels Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) coil drivers with an integrated immobilizer base station. Expandable to 8 low-frequency (LF) channels, the new Atmel ATA5291 is the world’s most integrated passive entry coil driver, allowing car manufacturers to deliver the latest breakthrough technologies in a variety of PKE applications. Atmel continues to combine the most innovative technologies onto a single die, allowing automotive manufacturers to deliver next-generation technologies to their customers. The new ATA5291 PKE device combines low-frequency drivers and immobilizer base station technology into a tiny QFN-49 package, essentially removing one low frequency antenna, a standalone immobilizer base station module and an external crystal/resonator. This new device allows car manufacturers to reduce their overall system cost and enables a superior out-of-band suppression to ensure a robust immobilizer operation, allowing more than 4 meters for the antenna harness. This extended distance gives customers the freedom to integrate it into a dedicated electronic control unit or into a body control module anywhere in the vehicle. The new device has the fastest current regulation loop available on the market today, ensuring faster and more reliable key localization. Targeting the car access PKE market, the new devices are directly connected to the car battery to transmit a high LF signal to wake-up the key inside (or outside) of the car. The key will then send an encrypted identification number to the car via an ultra-high frequency (UHF) signal, enabling the car door to lock/unlock or the engine to start. Unlike other devices on the market, the Atmel ATA5291 features a programmable carrier shape to mitigate electromagnetic radiation (EMR). A programmable instruction buffer with flexible commands is also integrated into the device to offload tasks from the host controller and enable for the first time value-added features for the consumer such as a welcome light or walk-away locking with a longer range and reduced power consumption, says the company. “Atmel is delivering the latest innovative technologies to next-generation vehicles with over two decades of automotive experience,” said Matthias Kaestner, vice president and general manager, Automotive Business Unit, Atmel. “Delivering robust performance in small form factors, enabling value added features and BOM cost optimization are key to driving the PKE market growth. Atmel delivers on all three in the latest car access series and we look forward to bringing next-generation technologies to power tomorrow’s cars.” The superior diagnostic capabilities of the ATA5291 enable a multitude of load fault detection scenario such as short to GND, short to Vbat, Open load, etc. An extended operational temperature range of -40C to 125C is critical for power applications making this device unique in the market, says the company.